The report said Gates told foundation officials that he met Epstein in 2011, several years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution, and that he was aware of the “18-month event” that restricted Epstein’s travel, but that he had not properly investigated his background.

He reportedly continued to meet with Mr. Epstein and spend time with him overseas until 2014, adding that he “never stayed overnight or visited Mr. Epstein’s island.”

The relationship reportedly continued even after his ex-wife expressed her doubts, adding: “To my ex-wife’s credit, she was always skeptical about Epstein.”

The newspaper said Epstein told him Gates had connections with other billionaires and suggested he could help Gates raise money for charities he was working on.

“This was a scheduled town hall with employees that Bill holds twice a year,” a Gates Foundation spokesperson said in a statement.

“During the conversation, Bill answered questions from Foundation staff about a variety of issues, including the release of the Epstein files, the Foundation’s work in AI, and the future of global health.

“At City Hall, Bill spoke openly, answered several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions.”

Gates founded the charity with his then-wife Melinda French Gates. They divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage.

In an interview with an NPR podcast earlier this month, she said the release of the files erased “a painful period in my marriage.”